Timestamps: What Are They & How To Timestamp on YouTube

Understanding timestamps is crucial for creating powerful content that stands out. Whether you're searching in a video, podcast or transcription, they improve usability and accessibility and allow users to navigate content seamlessly. Find out what timestamps are and how to add them to your YouTube videos and content below.

What is a timestamp?

Timestamps are like signposts for your content. They're unique identifiers for certain moments in audio, video and transcriptions. They're usually written in hours, minutes and seconds (e.g. 1:32:45). They may also include a datestamp, which lists the date either as yyyy-mm-dd, mm-dd-yyyy or dd-mm-yyyy. They let users jump straight to the good stuff, skipping irrelevant sections and saving precious time. In transcriptions, timestamps tag essential moments, making quotes easy to locate, remember and share.

For journalists and creators, timestamps transform videos into interactive experiences. Viewers can skip to chapters, key takeaways or highlights with ease, boosting engagement and retention. They’re also a game-changer for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), helping search engines better understand and rank your content, based on topics mentioned in it. By incorporating timestamps, you can streamline your editing process and deliver content that’s both dynamic and accessible.

The role of timestamps in transcriptions 

Timestamps aren't just for video. They're incredibly useful in transcriptions too. They help improve accuracy and usability, especially for researchers, journalists and legal professionals. By including these markers in transcriptions, you can quickly refer to specific points in the audio or video source — saving time and effort when looking for specific information. 

Timestamped transcriptions are particularly useful for finding precise quotes or key moments in interviews, speeches or legal proceedings. Time references in transcriptions are also vital for translating content. They enable translators to accurately pinpoint specific moments in the audio or video source, ensuring precise and relevant translations.

How to add timestamps to videos 

Adding time tags to videos and transcriptions is a straightforward process. For videos, you can use video editing tools or specialized timestamping software to mark specific timecodes within the video. 

How to add timestamps to YouTube videos

If you'll be uploading your video to YouTube, you can add timestamps directly in YouTube Studio. To do this:

1. Decide which portions of your video you want to identify as timestamps. Each one should be at least 10 seconds long. Make a note of the exact time it occurs in the video in minutes and seconds.
2. Go to the YouTube Studio and select the video you want to timestamp.
3. Click 'Edit' and scroll to the description box.
4. Type your timestamps in the description box. Ensure the first timestamp starts with "0:00" to activate the feature. Use a chronological order (minutes:seconds). Each YouTube timestamp should have a brief label or title for clarity. For example:

0:00 Introduction 

1:45 Key Topic 1 

3:20 Key Topic 2 

5:10 Conclusion  

5. Once you've added the timestamps, click 'Save' to update your video.
6. Open the video to ensure the chapters appear in the playback bar.

How to add timestamps to transcriptions 

Adding timestamps to audio and video transcriptions has never been easier. Professional transcription services like Trint automatically add timestamps during the transcription process, saving you hours of manual effort.

Once you have added the timestamps to your video and transcriptions, you should review the results and make any necessary adjustments. Precision matters, especially for translations or syncing with source audio or video. A quick double-check ensures your content is on point and professional. Pro tip: log any changes — future-you will thank you for the smooth edits!

‍Discover how Trint takes the hassle out of timestamping your audio and video transcripts. With automatic timestamp insertion and seamless collaboration tools, Trint empowers you to create polished, professional content in record time. Whether you’re a journalist, content creator or researcher, Trint makes it easy to streamline your workflow and stay organized. Start your 7-day free trial today and see the difference for yourself. Make sure to check out our Creator Hub for even more essential how-tos and advice.